The growing challenges in matching the military industrial capabilities of Russia and China highlight the flaws in the U.S. defense industry’s profit-driven approach, exemplified by Anduril’s ambitious yet controversial “Arsenal 1” project.

Many attempts to do so, including ongoing efforts by the US Army to expand 155mm artillery shell production, have shown progress but have fallen far short of matching let alone exceeding the output of just Russian shell production alone.

China, whose industrial base overall dwarfs that of the US, Europe, Japan, and South Korea combined, has demonstrated not only an ability to surpass the US in quantity, but now also in quality.

China has already established one of the largest and most capable missile forces on Earth. It also possesses one of the largest, most advanced integrated air defense systems, which includes battle-proven Russia-built S-400 air defense systems. In recent years it has expanded the production of its Chengdu J-20 5th generation warplane to match the numbers of the US’ F-22 fighter jet and is on track to match the annual production rate of the US’ other 5th generation warplane, the F-35.

Last year, China unveiled its own additional 5th generation warplane, the J-35, and will likely expand production to match or exceed that of the J-20.

The US Department of Defense admits that many of the munitions these Chinese warplanes carry are as capable or are more capable than those carried by US warplanes, including air-to-air missiles with longer ranges than their US counterparts.

In terms of shipbuilding, China has surpassed the United States so profoundly US policymakers admit closing the gap is unrealistic and instead seek to compensate through the development and manufacturing of large numbers of smaller vessels and aircraft including a variety of autonomous systems.

It should seem obvious that if China is capable of matching or exceeding the US in terms of missile, aircraft, and ship production, possessing the largest most prolific commercial drone company on Earth (DJI), China will be easily able to match or exceed both the quantities and quality of US-made autonomous systems.

Anduril and “Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy”

This conclusion appears lost on Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR – a virtual reality headset manufacturer – and now founder of arms manufacturer Anduril. Luckey believes that Anduril will be able to “hyperscale” production of autonomous aircraft, maritime vessels, and munitions to “rebuild the arsenal of democracy,” and lend victory to the US in a future great-power conflict with China.

Anduril drones have already been used over the battlefield in Ukraine, a peer-conflict the US is waging against Russia by proxy. Those drones have failed to grant Ukraine any advantage as its forces face a total collapse of fighting capacity, losing........

© New Eastern Outlook